By: Sunday Ameh
Human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, on Monday morning, narrowly escaped gunfire as security operatives dispersed protesters demanding the release of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, in Abuja.
The protest, tagged #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, was held near the Federal Secretariat area of the Federal Capital Territory before it was disrupted by combined teams of police officers and soldiers.
Eyewitnesses told Newsmen that the operatives stormed the protest ground at about 7:00 a.m., shooting sporadically into the air and using tear gas to disperse the crowd.
“They came in their trucks, fired shots and chased everyone away. Sowore and others ran for safety,” one of the protesters told Newsmen on condition of anonymity.
In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Sowore condemned the action of the security operatives, describing it as “state-sponsored brutality.”
“The @PoliceNG team deployed to brutalize #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protesters arrested Nnamdi Kanu’s brother and his lawyer, @AloyEjimakor, as well as innocent bystanders. They were beaten and taken to the FCT command. The police must release them immediately!” Sowore wrote.
The protesters, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Free Nnamdi Kanu Now!” and “End Political Detention in Nigeria,” had gathered peacefully before the police moved in to break up the demonstration.
According to sources, the police also arrested several unidentified protesters who were taken away in operational vehicles. It was not immediately clear whether they would face charges.
The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest was organized to pressure the Federal Government to release the IPOB leader, who has been in detention since 2021 despite several court rulings ordering his release.
As of the time of filing this report, there were no confirmed casualties, and the Nigeria Police Force had yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
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